Bathing dangerous but not an offence

Bridges on the Ancholme like this one at Castlethorpe a mile north of Brigg can seem to be attractive bathing spots in hot weather but North Lincolnshore Council have warned youngsters to avoid the dangers associated with unsupervised swinmming at such venues.

Published:09:02Saturday 21 December 2013

Youngsters swimming in the River Ancholme and even diving off bridges is not a criminal offence.

PC Howard Garlick of Humberside Police told the quarterly meeting of the Ancholme River Users Group at Glanford Boat Club there had been complaints and issues raised during the hot summer weather of July and August about the danger caused to boat owners and other river users.

“While not a criminal ffence, bathing and jumping off bridges can be dangerous, but it is not like walking on thin ice,” he said.

“We did talk in the schools about issues of river safety.

“There is a housing estate alongside the river, we could look at providing a life saving ring.”

And Users Group member Dave Mouncey added: “The Ancholme by-laws state you can swim in the river.”

However, Glanford Boat Club members expressed concern at the practice of diving into the wash of boats.

More seriously, there was a complaint of children ‘urinating on passing boats from bridges’.

PC Garlick said this sort of incident should be reported instantly to the police by boat owners.